One day it's raining here in San Mateo, the next it's 80 degrees. It's been a strange season to navigate and prepare for. When the weather turns warm, I usually stock the shop with flowers that can withstand the heat. I don't have a floral cooler here and I honestly wouldn't want one. The reality is that if you take an arrangement from a floral cooler and bring it to your house - which is clearly room temperature (whatever that may be) - it's a shock to the flowers. From here they go from normal to normal. If they last here, they'll last at your place. Along with weather-resistant blooms and plants, there are a number of things I switch up during the summer time. I turn off the pilot light at my house, store the comforters in the closet and switch to lightweight coverlets, and I put away big, chunky throws and replace them with featherweight versions. I also put the outdoor cushions on the furniture in the garden so I can sit outside and enjoy the stars at a moment's notice. I am prone to staring at the giant, 100-year-old tree in my backyard for long periods of time.

When it comes to design, I believe that warm weather calls for a color shift. It's time to put away the heavy, dark textiles and accessories, and brighten your space by bringing out the lighter, more organic pieces. Put out bowls of seashells or other objects that evoke a "vacation memories" vibe.



Changing throw pillows is another easy way to freshen your space for summer. Switch to linen, cotton, or hemp based fabric for a more earthy, beach look. Take down weighty drapes and replace with more casual clip rings and woven panels. Linen and cotton instantly lighten up a room.



For me, summertime means less stuff and more space. Tis' the season of de-cluttering at my address. As I've said before, I never want to have more than one grocery bag of stuff to donate at any one time. If I have more than that, I have issues. I seriously just want to plop down on my couch after working all day with a glass of wine and not have to look at a bunch of stuff I don't love, need, or find beautiful.

In fact, reading the latest issue of Elle Decor I got really inspired by something unexpected in Meg Ryan's beachfront home. It wasn't even that the photographer wanted readers to see what she'd done, it was just something by-chance in the pantry, but a light bulb went off in my head. She had all her used candles stored away in a cubby. I have always left mine out regardless of when I would use them next. They take up space, get dusty, and are just another thing I have to visually categorize. So I put mine away as well and when I next feel like burning my candles, I'll take them out. The coffee table is now free and clear of everything except a few design mags and some coasters.

Once your home is clean and clear, so is your head!

Have a wonderful week!

Melisa

It doesn't matter how small your living space is, you can still create a cool, comfortable and well-designed place to spend your time. I'm not talking about a home full of IKEA Lack tables and woven floor cushions. I speak from personal experience when I say that even a one room apartment CAN have huge style.

I've had the good fortune to help a lot of people recently who are completely awesome and creative but who really don't know how to put their homes together. Most of these people already own all of the perfect elements, they just need some guidance on flow and arrangement. Sometimes we have to subtract items, sometimes add, but it's always easy to help them realize their vision of the "perfect" space and there's nothing more rewarding than that!

The reality is that 99.9% of us are not fortunate enough to be benefactors of Deserving Design and I can bet a lot of us don't have unlimited budgets for home decorating. I thought a lot about this when pulling the shop together. I wanted someone to be able to walk in and no matter what their budget, find something unique that added shine to their space. Most of the time fixing up a space is something that a can of paint, some great plants, and a few changes in furniture can take care of quite nicely!

Space constraints definitely dictate what things we can and can't have in our homes but a willingness to explore and push the boundaries on what may have become comfortable habits (all neutral furnishings, all dark wood, shabby chic, etc.) will open up innumerable design possibilities for every sized bank account.

If you're feeling stuck, or feeling like your space has stagnated, give me a call and we'll figure it out!

Take care and happy nesting,
Melisa

I am ALL about vignettes. I was looking at a photo album a while back and realized that even as a 15 year old I was setting little scenes in my bedroom. One shelf was my "Rock shelf" where I displayed a Led Zeppelin bandanna as a backdrop for my mocassin suede purse, a leather bracelet and all my little rock and roll collectibles. By my bed was my punkrock area where my black plastic bat hung from the ceiling in front of way too many band fliers, pictures torn from magazines, a few postcards from England, and some Minor Threat song lyrics. On and on it went throughout my life. It seems I would rather set small moods in many little places rather than create one big thematic experience. In this way it's like taking tiny trips to different environments all throughout my space. My store is a perfect reflection of this philosophy. I have the "Hipster Urbanite Lounge area", the "Sexy Cougar area", the "Hollywood Producer Bachelor area", etc. I love creating different moods just by switching up a few pieces of furniture and adding and subtracting accessories.

If I'm going to make a pronouncement for summer it's this, "It's all about what you serve it in." I am tired of boring glasses and I want to see the glamour and fun come back into our lives. Having a few friends over IS an occasion and it's way more fun to serve them drinks from a great carafe, or to use beautifully colored Polish or Hungarian shot glasses for that Petron. I love the old school look of Bourbon and Whiskey in cut crystal bottles. I've started collecting antique bottle stoppers for the shop as they add so much class to a boring bottle.

Setting a scene is easy. Make it special by adding fresh flowers, taking some throw pillows outdoors and spreading a blanket, staging a prop or two ( a great chair here, an antique Buddha statue there) and enjoy the moment.

How often do any of us even get the chance to relax anymore? Do so in style!